Bimini cont.

This is the group of cruisers at the marina where we are staying. (The Blue Water Marina) We are all waiting for a weather window and are all going to different places, some going to the states, some to the Abacos, and we are going to the Exumas.

Saw this sign as we were waking into another marina/bar.


Carolyn coming back from a shopping trip.

Checking the prop and condition of the anode etc. It looks like we may get to leave on Sunday. We will probably spend one night on the banks and make Nassau by the end of the next day. If it works out that way, then we will have an update from Nassau.

Bimini cont.

A few pictures of Bimini.

The goats are turned loose every day to feed around the island and are rounded up before dark. Mother natures "lawn mowers" at work.

An old ship from Belize.

West side of the island is beach front.


OK. Carolyn took the picture and said that I was just a little too cocky and cool. So she wanted another.

Bye bye cool.

This is Rose who sells her homemade pastries out of her home as many Bahamians do.

The supply boat comes in every Thursday. It is best to buy what you need on Friday because by Monday it will be gone. Then you have to wait til the next supply boat to come in again.

Conch and conch shells everywhere.

The local fauna.

S. Riding Rock to Bimini

We are in Bimini and here are a few pictures. It is quite beatiful and because of weather we will be here for a while.

A cruise ship along the way. (One of many ships we crossed during the night)

South Riding Rock. We anchored here for the night then went on to Bimini.

This is Jim and Denice on Lizard (35 ft. Baba) We crossed the Gulf Stream together.

We are in the entrance to Bimini here.

Customs was very nice.

Carolyn and I on the east side of the island along the beach.

This large starfish is actually 7-8 ft. down by the docks.

A fisherman came by with conch and lobster for sale. We bought a dozen lobster for $60 and split with Jim and Denice.

The chefs are happy.

Bimini, Bahamas

We are safe and sound and in the Bahamas. Actually we are in Bimini at the Blue Water Marina. It is $30 a night here. We were not going to stay long but the weather is really turning crappy so we may HAVE to be here a few days. Our plan to make Riding Rock and then go across the banks did not work. We did made it to Riding Rock, which is an open anchorage. But because we had a "lumpy" ride across the Gulf Stream and a very rolly, rough night at anchor at Riding Rock, all in all a miserable 36 hrs, we decided not to go on to the North West Passage across the banks. The next day was great. We motor sailed to Bimini and slept in. From here, weather permitting, we will continue on eastward. Pictures of our trip and Bimini will come soon.

Marathon cont.

A couple of days ago we went to check on a friend's boat. While we were there we went to Cast-a -ways restaurant to eat and do a little computer work. They had an aquarium and we got to see a live seahorse. (Sometimes it doesn't take much to amuse the mind).

We did not know ! It is actually piped in.

Carolyn and I went to Sombrero beach at the end of sister creek today to clean the bottom of the dinghy and saw this guy swimming across the creek. A really nice iguana.

We beached the dinghy and took a before and after picture.

Much better. We used wet scrub-brushes dipped in sand and rinsed with salt water.

This will probably be our last entry for a while. We hope to leave for the Bahamas on Sat. and don't really know when we will have access to wifi again but as soon as we do we will update the site.

Marathon cont.

Last night was the last day of operation for the Boot Key bridge. There was a ceremony next to the bridge that had bag pipes, conch horns and a few toasts. It was called a dinghy raft-up and we witnessed this from the cockpit of Moondance as we are anchored near the bridge.

Raft-up


The Boot Key bridge in it's new permanent position.

This is a large manatee we saw enjoying a little fresh water dripping off the back of a boat as the owners were rinsing it off.

The manatee on it's back.

The end of another day in paradise.

Marathon cont.

A few more pictures of Marathon.

When everyone has their anchor lites on it is really something to see. This picture is the best we could do but does not do it any justice.

A beautiful Marathon sunset. "Now where's that drink?"

Boot Key is a very protected habor. The wind is blowing around 25 kts in this picture.

300 + boats

We are anchored just inside the harbor near the bridge. The city is working on the bridge today in order to make it permanently open from now on.

Marathon, Fl.

Yes, we are still in Marathon. We have been waiting for a weather window for better than a week and might get it this coming weekend. Crossing the Gulf Stream should not be done with any wind from the north because it builds up really nasty seas. Marathon is however a very good place to wait for weather. There are 300 boats/cruisers at any given time here and the city marina runs the mooring field and is a great place for meeting other cruisers etc. It is not too far to supplies and groceries. You can also anchor free of charge in the harbor if you don't want a mooring ball.

On our way to do a little shopping.

Carolyn's camera work !

Marathon harbor.


City marina dinghy dock . The building in the background is the office, tv/meeting, work shop and showers.

We had a conch sandwich here and was really good.